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Preparing a Lone Star Replica for Painting

Wash replica with lacquer thinner or acetone. (To remove any separator residue).

Trim seam flashing with sharp knife or razor knife.	Trim fins with sharp scissors.	Use fiberglass cut-off wheel to detail the edges of fins.

For open mouth, open gill replicas: Using fiberglass cut-off wheel, "rough-out" the gill and mouth openings, following the natural contours of the fish. Use cone bit for final detailing of mouth and gill openings.		Using cone bit or round ball cutter bits, cut out eye orbit. Most of the time the outline of the eye is clearly visible.

Using a dremel or foredom tool to finish off any seams using cone bit and small round cutters. Fill depressions in seam area with Apoxie Sculpt/All-Game, smoothing out with safety solvent or water. There are many ways to reproduce the detail for seam work: Commercial made scale wheels, carving detail in the epoxy, texturing with a towel, etc. Spraying the seam area with silver paint (lacquer) or automotive primer (lacquer) will give a much better idea what needs to be done, as far as detailing. Any pinholes can be filled with spackling paste. 

Cut fins out. Sand edges with 400 grit sandpaper. Detail edge with fiberglass cut-off wheel	Clean the spot where the fin will be attached of any paint. Put a drop or two of Zap-a-Gap on the fin and place it on the fish. Spraying Zip-Kicker on the glue will make it set-up instantly.

.......to be continued.